made all, jumped slowly last, held on well towards finish
held up in rear, headway 5th, effort 3 out, soon outpaced, left remote 2nd last
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden and weakened 5th
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before next
mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden and 5 lengths down when fell last
chased winner until approaching 2 out, left 3rd last
in touch until weakened after 5th
held up in rear, headway 5th, outpaced 3 out
Nonrunner
Some real old characters in competition and a minimal stakes recommendation made with regard to Ball Games with Nobodys Perfect and Teme Valley suggested as the most plausible alternatives. Ball Games is a confirmed plater and while it is ridiculous to suggest that he is open to any improvement - he showed plenty of guts to land his Catterick seller and this contest is no better than that. Nobodys Perfect is dropped in trip. His best form is on softer ground so he will really need to be on his game to score here. Teme Valley is something of a standing dish at this venue. He should be thereabouts again and is the model of consistency. Siena Star is another who always tries her hardest and she has won or placed in thirty of her 62 races. She is making her first run for new connections having left Peter Bowen. Calomeria is tumbling down the weights and would make more appeal were this over further. Torkinking blew up badly on reappearance and should have come on for the run. A poor race in which Ball Games is begrudgingly offered up as our pick.
Torkinking (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Led, mistake 4 out, soon headed, weakened next, 10th of 13, well behind Jake Black (10-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Nov.
Teme Valley 16-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 16, 10l behind Welcome To Unos (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Nov.
Calomeria 6-1 (11-9) Led to 1st, in touch, chased leader approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Sunisa (11-1) at Haydock 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft.
Emperor's Monarch 25-1 (10-13) In touch, lost place approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 5th of 17, 33l behind Wild Is The Wind (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) hvy in Oct.
Dark Character 20-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, one pace, no impression from 3 out, 6th of 23, 29l behind Whispered Promises (11-5) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Siena Star (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (10-3) Held up tracking leaders, ridden 4 out, kept on, 3rd of 16, 1l behind Twist Bookie (11-1) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (F) gs.
Ball Games 8-1 (11-2) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, headway approaching next, led approaching last, driven out, won at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gd in Nov beating Loner (10-11) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Basinet 14-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 2 out, 6th of 10, 18l behind Smart Boy Prince (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs.
